Official Career Of Ding Richang

In the 19 th century,China was undergoing a really tough period —multiple invasion of foreign powers and civil uprising against the government,which was unprecedented over the past 3000 years.In order to strengthen itself,the government decided to appoint some innovative officers but did not want the westernization group to be the only option.Therefore they made great efforts and deliberately promoted the conservative group to make a balance.Ding Richang,a man of action and an excellent officer,who was proficient in westernization in the self-strengthening movement,won the recognition of Li Hongzhang.Ding got promoted with the help of Li Hongzhang in his early period,and then they supported each other in political views.From the clue of Ding's development in his official career and friendship with Li Hongzhang,the political situation of the Qing Dynasty and the struggle between the conservative group and the westernization group could be studied.Also,the efforts made by Li Hongzhang for Huai Military development and self-strengthening career could be seen.Ding Richang got increasingly promoted due to his outstanding ability in westernization.It is helpful to further understand the political situation of the Qing Dynasty by studying Ding's official career and his relationship with Li Hongzhang.Ding Richang failed in imperial examination,then he worked for Zeng Guofan and the next year he transferred to Li Hongzhang,which was the turning point of his official career.In the year of 1864,Ding Richang was recommended as Shanghai magistrate,then served as salt administrator.Ding Richang worked conscientiously for fundraising of Huai Military to help Li Hongzhang suppress the robel forces.Li Hongzhang recommended Ding Richang as governor of Jiangsu in the year of 1867 in order to get Jiangsu's financial support for Huai Military and to foster his own forces to reduce the resistance of self-strengthening.In the year of 1870,Ding Richang resignedfrom his position for his mother's passing away,and then returned three years later with encouragement of Li Hongzhang.Ding Richang served as governor of Fujian in1875 and deliberately reorganize Taiwan to develop his self-strengthening career.But He Jing,governor of Fujian and Zhejiang,was a conservative man,and he restricted Ding's action.Ding Richang realized that he could not get on well with He Jing.Finally he resigned from his position in excuse of disease.By studying Ding Richang's promotion in his official career,the struggle could be analyzed.between central government and local government,between Xiang and Huai army and between conservative group and westernization group.